Self-locked hinge device and a multi-function peripheral using the same
A self-locked hinge device includes a hinge body, a first mounting plate, a second mounting plate and a locking mechanism. The first mounting plate is hinged to a first end of the hinge body, and the second mounting plate is hinged to a second end of the hinge body. The locking mechanism locks the first mounting plate and the hinge body together to restrict any relative movement therebetween when the second mounting plate is rotated to a predetermined position relative to the hinge body. The invention also provides a multi-function peripheral using the self-locked hinge device.
1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a self-locked hinge device and a multi-function peripheral using the same, and more particularly to a self-locked hinge device with two integrated hinges and a multi-function peripheral using the same.
2. Description of the Related Art
The multi-function peripheral (MFP) is now very popular because it has the functions of scan, print, or even fax. In a conventional MFP, the printing unit is usually located below a scanning unit. The user has to replace the toner or ink cartridge with a new one after the toner or ink has been consumed in either a laser or ink-jet type printing unit. At this time, the user has to lift up the scanning unit so as to perform the replacement operation. Alternatively, when the paper jam situation occurs in the multi-function peripheral, the user also has to lift up the scanning unit so as to overcome this situation.
However, the above-mentioned prior art has the following drawbacks. Because two hinges have to be mounted independently, the assembling processes are complicated, and thus the cost of the MFP cannot be effectively reduced. In addition, when the user lifts up the scanning unit 103, the slanting cover 105 may separate from the scanning unit 103 or even fall down owing to the gravity force. In this case, the cover 105 and/or the first hinge 101 tend to be damaged. When the automatic document feeder is additionally mounted to the cover 105, the overall weight of the cover 105 is further increased. If the cover 105 falls down owing to the lifting up of the scanning unit 103, the expensive automatic document feeder may be damaged.
Consequently, it is a great advantage in miniaturizing the MFP and reducing the cost thereof if a self-locked hinge device, which is capable of facilitating the assembling processes of the MFP and preventing the cover from separating from the scanning unit that is lifted up, is provided.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONIt is therefore an object of the invention to provide a self-locked hinge device capable of facilitating the assembling processes of a multi-function peripheral and effectively preventing the cover from falling down.
The invention achieves the above-mentioned object by providing a self-locked hinge device, which includes a hinge body, a first mounting plate, a second mounting plate and a locking mechanism. The first mounting plate is hinged to a first end of the hinge body, and the second mounting plate is hinged to a second end of the hinge body. The locking mechanism locks the first mounting plate and the hinge body together to restrict any relative movement therebetween when the second mounting plate is rotated to a predetermined position relative to the hinge body.
The invention also achieves the above-mentioned object by providing a multi-function peripheral, which includes the self-locked hinge device, a scanning unit, a printing unit and a cover. The scanning unit mounted to the hinge body is for scanning a to-be-scanned document and generating a printing signal. The printing unit mounted to the second mounting plate is for receiving the printing signal and printing a to-be-printed document. The cover mounted to the first mounting plate is for covering over the to-be-scanned document placed on the scanning unit.
According to the above-mentioned structure, the user can lift up the cover and the scanning unit separately so as to place the sheet or document, replace the consumable material or overcome the paper jam. In addition, when the user lifts up the scanning unit, the cover is locked in order to prevent the cover from falling down, damaging or hurting someone.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The scanning unit 2 mounted to the hinge body 10 scans a document and generates a printing signal. The document may be placed on a glass window of the scanning unit 2 such that a flatbed scan process may be performed, or placed in the automatic document feeder 5 such that a sheet-fed scan process may be performed. Thus, the scanning unit 2 has a movable scanning module for performing the flatbed scan or sheet-fed scan process. Furthermore, the automatic document feeder 5 may also have another scanning module for performing a duplex scan process in conjunction with the scanning module of the scanning unit 2. Alternatively, the scanning unit 2 may have an image processing module for generating the printing signal. It is to be noted that the scan signal generated by the scanning unit 2 may be transferred to a host computer, which can generate the printing signal and transfer the signal to the printing unit 3 for printing according to this scan signal.
The printing unit 3 mounted to the second mounting plate 50 is for receiving the printing signal and printing a to-be-printed document. The printing unit 3 may be a dot-matrix type printing module, an ink-jet printing module or a laser printing module. The consumable materials of these printing modules have to be refilled or replaced. Thus, the printing unit 3 has to be hinged to the scanning unit 2 so that the user may lift up the scanning unit 2 and replace the consumable material, refill the consumable material, overcome the paper jam, or maintain the MFP.
The cover 4 mounted to the first mounting plate 30 is for covering over the to-be-scanned document placed on the scanning unit 2. The automatic document feeder 5 mounted onto the cover 4 is for feeding the to-be-scanned document for the scanning unit 2 to scan. In order to prevent the cover from falling down when the scanning unit is lifted up, the self-locked hinge device 1 needs to have the locking mechanism 70 for locking the first mounting plate 30 and the hinge body 10 together to restrict any relative movement therebetween when the second mounting plate 50 is rotated to a predetermined position relative to the hinge body 10. The detailed structure of this self-locked hinge device 1 will be described in the following.
The follower link 71 is formed with a circular or an elliptic first opening 73 and a rectangular second opening 74 in communication with the first opening 73. The first hinge shaft 11 may have two cambers and two planes and is thus capable of rotating in the first opening 73 but incapable of rotating in the second opening 74. When the state of the self-locked hinge device 1 is that as shown in
According to the above-mentioned structure of the invention, it is possible to provide a self-locked hinge device capable of facilitating the assembling processes of a multi-function peripheral and effectively preventing the cover from falling down. When the multi-function peripheral is assembled, the desired operations may be achieved by mounting only one set of self-locked hinge device. In addition, when the scanning unit of the multi-function peripheral is lifted up, the self-locked hinge device can prevent the cover from falling down so as to protect the user in a safe condition and avoid the damage of the multi-function peripheral.
While the invention has been described by way of examples and in terms of preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments. To the contrary, it is intended to cover various modifications. Therefore, the scope of the appended claims should be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications.
Claims
1. A self-locked hinge device, comprising:
- a hinge body having a first end and a second end;
- a first mounting plate hinged to the first end;
- a second mounting plate hinged to the second end; and
- a locking mechanism for locking the first mounting plate and the hinge body together to restrict any relative movement therebetween when the second mounting plate is rotated to a predetermined position relative to the hinge body.
2. The self-locked hinge device according to claim 1, wherein a first hinge shaft between the first mounting plate and the hinge body and a second hinge shaft between the second mounting plate and the hinge body are located on the same plane.
3. The self-locked hinge device according to claim 2, wherein the locking mechanism comprises:
- a follower link, which moves with a relative rotation between the second mounting plate and the hinge body, for selectively fixing the first hinge shaft; and
- a cam, which is mounted to the second mounting plate, for contacting and moving the follower link.
4. The self-locked hinge device according to claim 3, wherein the cam is a form-closed cam.
5. The self-locked hinge device according to claim 4, wherein the follower link is formed with a first opening and a second opening in communication with the first opening, and the first hinge shaft is capable of rotating in the first opening but incapable of rotating in the second opening.
6. The self-locked hinge device according to claim 3, wherein the locking mechanism further comprises:
- a spring connecting the follower link to the cam, which is a force-closed cam.
7. The self-locked hinge device according to claim 6, wherein the follower link is formed with a first opening and a second opening in communication with the first opening, and the first hinge shaft is capable of rotating in the first opening but incapable of rotating in the second opening.
8. The self-locked hinge device according to claim 1, wherein a first hinge shaft between the first mounting plate and the hinge body and a second hinge shaft between the second mounting plate and the hinge body are located on different planes.
9. The self-locked hinge device according to claim 8, wherein the locking mechanism comprises:
- a follower link, which moves with a relative rotation between the second mounting plate and the hinge body, for selectively fixing the first hinge shaft; and
- a cam, which is mounted to the second mounting plate, for contacting and moving the follower link.
10. The self-locked hinge device according to claim 9, wherein the cam is a form-closed cam.
11. The self-locked hinge device according to claim 10, wherein the follower link is formed with a first opening and a second opening in communication with the first opening, and the first hinge shaft is capable of rotating in the first opening but incapable of rotating in the second opening.
12. The self-locked hinge device according to claim 9, wherein the locking mechanism further comprises:
- a spring connecting the follower link to the cam, which is a force-closed cam.
13. The self-locked hinge device according to claim 12, wherein the follower link is formed with a first opening and a second opening in communication with the first opening, and the first hinge shaft is capable of rotating in the first opening but incapable of rotating in the second opening.
14. A multi-function peripheral, comprising:
- a self-locked hinge device comprising: a hinge body having a first end and a second end; a first mounting plate hinged to the first end; a second mounting plate hinged to the second end; and a locking mechanism for locking the first mounting plate and the hinge body together to restrict any relative movement therebetween when the second mounting plate is rotated to a predetermined position relative to the hinge body;
- a scanning unit, which is mounted to the hinge body, for scanning a to-be-scanned document and generating a printing signal;
- a printing unit, which is mounted to the second mounting plate, for receiving the printing signal and printing a to-be-printed document; and
- a cover, which is mounted to the first mounting plate, for covering over the to-be-scanned document placed on the scanning unit.
15. The multi-function peripheral according to claim 14, further comprising:
- an automatic document feeder, which is mounted to the cover, for feeding the to-be-scanned document for the scanning unit to scan.
16. The multi-function peripheral according to claim 14, wherein a first hinge shaft between the first mounting plate and the hinge body and a second hinge shaft between the second mounting plate and the hinge body are located on the same plane.
17. The multi-function peripheral according to claim 14, wherein a first hinge shaft between the first mounting plate and the hinge body and a second hinge shaft between the second mounting plate and the hinge body are located on different planes.
Type: Application
Filed: Apr 28, 2004
Publication Date: Mar 3, 2005
Patent Grant number: 7299525
Inventor: Yu-Lun Chang (Tou-Feng Town)
Application Number: 10/833,008